Woman in court for ‘burning child’s thighs with iron box’

 Iron box [Photo: Courtesy]

A woman yesterday told a Nakuru court how her cousin burnt her 14-year-old daughter's legs with an iron box.

Celina Anyango, an aunt to the girl, testified against Catherine Akinyi, a step-mother to the child, before Senior Resident Magistrate Eunice Kelly.

She said her niece went to her crying on November 14, last year and upon inquiry the child said her step-mother had assaulted her with the iron box.

She testified that she immediately called Akinyi, who admitted to burning the child, saying it was to punish her.

“The accused, who is my cousin, informed me that her daughter had wronged her, making her angry and in the event she opted to assault her with a hot iron box,” testified Anyango.

She also told court that the accused had formed a habit of harming the minor.

At one point, she testified, the accused attempted to strangle the child.

She said the accused denied the minor her basic needs, abused her and overworked her, making her disturbed and unable to concentrate on her studies.

Akinyi is on trial for the assault of the child. She allegedly burned the child on her two thighs at their home in Manyani area within Nakuru County.

The minor said the accused found her sleeping on the day of the incident and burnt her with the iron box, an action that left her in a lot of pain and grievous harm.

She was admitted to Nairobi Women’s hospital. 

The court ordered that the child reports to school and be exempted from court proceedings unless needed.

The hearing will continue on July 2.